Method, article of manufacture and apparatus for restricting the receipt of delegate reply messages

ABSTRACT

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restricting the receipt of automatic delegate reply messages. Specifically, the method configures a control message for an electronic mail (e-mail) message addressed to at least one recipient terminal or computer, and sends the e-mail and control messages to the at least one recipient terminal. Upon processing the control message, the at least one recipient terminal determines whether to reply to the received e-mail message with a delegate reply message. As such, a sender of the e-mail message may restrict the receipt of delegate reply messages by configuring the control message through different features or options.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to electronic mail systems and, more particularly,the invention relates to a method, article of manufacture and apparatusfor restricting the receipt of delegate reply messages.

2. Background of the Related Art

In today's electronic mail (e-mail) environment, many users utilize adelegate reply feature while away on vacation or business. This delegatereply feature may automatically create and send a delegate reply messagein response to a sent message. The delegate reply message notifies thesender that the user, i.e., the recipient of the sent message, isunavailable or not present, and generally provides a reason for theirabsence.

Although the delegate reply message is useful to the recipients of thesent message, the delegate reply message also contributes to extraneousmessages or clutter to the sender. When the message is sent to a largeaudience, this cluttering problem is exacerbated if the recipients inthe audience use the automatic delegate reply feature. In thissituation, extra effort is required by the sender to clean up thedelegate reply messages. As such, the large amount of delegate replye-mail received would discourage the sender from sending messages tosuch a large audience.

Therefore, a need exists in the art for a method, article of manufactureand apparatus prevent this cluttering problem by restricting the receiptof delegate reply messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method, article of manufacture and apparatusfor restricting the receipt of delegate reply messages. In oneembodiment, the invention provides a method for restricting the receiptof delegate reply messages comprising configuring a control message foran electronic mail (e-mail) message addressed to at least one recipientterminal or computer, and sending the e-mail and control messages to theat least one recipient terminal. Upon processing the control message,the at least one recipient terminal determines whether to reply to thereceived e-mail message with a delegate reply message.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for deletingdelegate reply messages comprising receiving an automatic delegate replymessage provided in response to a sent electronic mail message to atleast one recipient terminal, and deleting the opened delegate replymessage.

The invention also provides an apparatus comprising a memory and aprocessing unit, where the apparatus is configured for restricting thereceipt of delegate reply messages. The memory stores an electronic mailmessage and a delegate reply restriction routine. The processing unitexecutes the delegate reply restriction routine retrieved from thememory, configures a control message for an electronic mail message uponcommand from an input device, and sends the electronic mail and controlmessages to at least one recipient terminal. Upon processing the controlmessage, the at least one recipient terminal determines whether to replyto the received e-mail message with a delegate reply message. In thismanner, the apparatus restricts the receipt of automatic delegate replymessages.

Additionally, a computer readable medium storing a software program isprovided, where the software program, when executed by a computer,causes the computer to perform a method. In one embodiment of thecomputer readable medium, the method comprises configuring a controlmessage for an electronic mail message addressed to at least onerecipient terminal, and sending the electronic mail and control messagesto the at least one recipient terminal. Upon processing the controlmessage, the at least one recipient terminal determines whether to replyto the received e-mail message with a delegate reply message.

In another embodiment of the computer readable medium, the methodcomprises receiving an automatic delegate reply message provided inresponse to a sent electronic mail message to at least one recipientterminal, and deleting the opened delegate reply message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a simplified block diagram of an electronic mail systemthat benefits from the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a simplified block diagram of a user terminal (computer)within the electronic mail system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B, taken together, depict a flow diagram for implementinga mail program having a delegate reply restriction feature of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram for handling a received message once thereceived message is opened.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts an electronic mail (e-mail) system 100 that benefits fromthe use of the present invention. The present invention is embodied asan executable software routine(s) that generally resides within the userterminals 106. The system 100 comprises an e-mail server 102, a network104 and a plurality of user terminals 106 ₁, 106 ₂, . . . 106 _(n). Eachuser terminal may be a computer system, an e-mail enabled networkappliance, an e-mail enabled wireless device and the like. The userterminals 106 are connected to one another through the network 104 andalso connected through the network 104 to the e-mail server 102. Thee-mail server 102 provides e-mail services to all of the user terminals106 such that e-mail addressed from one terminal to another is routedthrough the network 104 to the e-mail server 102. Each user terminal 106may then retrieve its e-mail from the e-mail server 102. Although thesystem is shown having a hub and spoke configuration, other forms ofnetworks may also benefit from the invention.

In addition to conventional e-mail messages, the system 100 routescontrol messages to the user terminals 106. These control messages maycomprise a delegate flag for restricting whether other terminals maysend a delegate reply message to a previously sent message. The controlmessages are handled and routed by the system 100 in exactly the samemanner as conventional e-mail. The routines within each user terminalare designed to provide special processing for the control messages whenreceived.

FIG. 2 depicts a user terminal 106, e.g., a general purpose computersystem. User terminal 106 comprises a computer 200 and an input/outputdevice or devices 202 such as a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, atrackball and the like. The computer 200 comprises a central processingunit 204, support components 206, input/output circuits 208 and a memory210. The memory 210 may be a solid state memory, a disc drive, anoptical memory, a removable memory device, or a combination of any ofthese memory devices. The input/output circuits 208 provide a well-knowninterface from the CPU 204 to the I/O devices 202. The supportcomponents 206 are well known in the art and include such circuits ascache, power supplies, clock circuits, and the like. The combination ofall of these circuits, components and elements forms a general purposecomputer that, when executing a particular software package or routine,becomes a specific purpose computer. In this case, the CPU 204, whenexecuting the electronic mail processing software 212 of the presentinvention, operates as an e-mail processor 218 as well as a controlmessage processor 216. The e-mail software 212 resides in memory 210. Inaddition, the electronic mail messages 220 including the controlmessages 222 are stored in a message storage 214 within the memory 210.In addition, the I/O circuits 208 generally contain a network interfacecard or modem that couples the computer to the network of FIG. I suchthat electronic mail messages can be routed to and from the computer200.

As will be described in detail below, one embodiment of the invention isimplemented as a program product for use with a computer system such as,for example, the system 100 shown in FIG. 1. The program(s) of theprogram product defines functions of the preferred embodiment and can becontained on a variety of signal/bearing media, which include, but arenot limited to, (i) information permanently stored on non-writablestorage media, (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such asCD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive); (ii) alterable informationstored on writable storage media (e.g., floppy disks within a diskettedrive or hard-disk drive); or (iii) information conveyed to a computerby a communications medium, such as through a computer or telephonenetwork, including wireless communications. Such signal-bearing media,when carrying computer-readable instructions that direct the functionsof the present invention, represent embodiments of the presentinvention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the control message processor 216configures a control message associated with an e-mail message addressedto at least one recipient terminal or computer, e.g., one recipientterminal or a plurality of recipient terminals. The e-mail processor 218and control message processor 216 then sends the respective e-mail andcontrol messages to the at least one recipient terminal. The controlmessage may comprise a delegate flag, where the at least one recipientterminal processes the control message for determining whether to replyto the received e-mail message with an automatic delegate reply message.The control message may be sent within the e-mail message or separatefrom the e-mail message.

The control message is configured to implement different features oroptions in a software routine, i.e., a delegate reply restrictionroutine. In one configuration of the control message, the inventiondisables all recipients of a sent message from responding with adelegate reply message. In another embodiment, the invention disablesthe recipients listed in a CC: field of the sent message from respondingwith a delegate reply message. In this case, the sender would onlyreceive automatic delegate reply messages from recipients listed in theTO: field of the sent message. Additionally, the invention may disableall recipients of a sent message from responding with a delegate replymessage only if the number of recipients addressed in the sent messageis above a threshold number.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, taken together, depict a flow diagram of an e-mailprogram (method 300) for restricting the receipt of delegate replymessages. FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a e-mail program (method 400)for implementing the cancellation or removal of delegate replies once areceived message is opened. To best understand the invention, the readershould simultaneously refer to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4.

The mail program is embodied in a method 300 shown in FIG. 3. The method300 starts at step 302 and proceeds to retrieve an event at step 304.Such events may represent a particular command from a user, e.g., thesender of an e-mail message or the recipient of delegate reply messages.The sender may enter the command as an option or selection to a featureprovided in the invention. The method 300 operates in an event-drivenmanner, i.e., the method 300 retrieves events and performs differentsteps depending on a particular event retrieved.

At step 306, the method 300 queries whether the event is to send ane-mail message without receiving any corresponding delegate replymessages. Namely, step 306 determines whether the sender desires tocancel or disable all delegate reply messages that may be provided inresponse to a sent e-mail message.

If the event is to send an e-mail message without receiving any delegatereply messages, the method 300 proceeds to create or obtain a messageidentifier for the message to be sent at step 308. In one embodiment ofthe invention, the message identifier includes sender and timestampinformation. This timestamp information may comprise the date and timeof the e-mail message to be sent. Other embodiments of the messageidentifier, e.g., a numerical value or terminal number, are alsocontemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

The method 300 proceeds to write the message identifier in the e-mailmessage to be sent at step 310. At step 312, the method 300 sets adelegate flag to an off state. This delegate flag may be part of acontrol message that is either transmitted with the e-mail message orembedded within the e-mail message. After setting the delegate flag, themethod 300 proceeds to send the e-mail message at step 314 and retrievethe next event at step 304.

If the event is to send an e-mail message with the possibility ofreceiving delegate reply messages, i.e., the cancel delegate feature isnot selected, the method 300 proceeds to step 316. At step 316, themethod 300 queries whether the event is to send an e-mail message in anormal manner. Namely, step 316 determines whether the sender is to sendan e-mail message. If the event is to send an e-mail message, the methodproceeds to step 318, where a message identifier may be obtained insubstantially the same manner as step 308.

At step 320, the method 300 queries whether the event is to receivedelegate reply messages from recipients specified in the CC: field of asent e-mail message. Namely, step 320 determines whether to limit thereceipt of delegate reply messages from recipients specified in the TO:field, i.e., not receive delegate reply messages from recipientsspecified in the CC: field.

If the event is allows receipt of delegate reply messages fromrecipients in the CC: field in the e-mail message to be sent, the method300 proceeds to step 322. At step 322, the method 300 determines whetherthe sender desires to send an e-mail message without receiving anydelegate reply messages if the number of recipients addressed in thee-mail message to send exceeds a threshold number. The exact thresholdnumber is selected by the sender, or predetermined by a programmer or aperson having ordinary skill in the art.

If the number of recipients addressed in the e-mail message to be sentexceeds the threshold, the method 300 proceeds to step 324, where themethod 300 sets the delegate flag to an off state and writes the messageidentifier in the message. The method 300 proceeds to send the e-mailmessage at step 328 and retrieve the next event at step 304. If thenumber of recipients addressed in the e-mail message to be sent does notexceed the threshold, the method 300 proceeds to write the messageidentifier in the e-mail message at step 326. The method 300 proceeds tosend the e-mail message at step 328 and retrieve the next event at step304.

Returning to step 320, if the event restricts the receipt of delegatereply messages from recipients in the CC: filed in the e-mail message tobe sent, the method 300 determines whether the e-mail message specifiesany recipients in CC: field. If no recipients are specified in the CC:field, the method 300 proceeds to step 322. If at least one recipient isspecified in the CC: field, the method 300 proceeds to step 332, wherethe method 300 makes an additional copy of the e-mail message. This copyof the e-mail message is to be sent to the recipients originally listedin the CC: field.

At step 334, the method 300 sets the delegate flag to an off state. Thisdelegate flag may be sent within a control message associated with thecopy of the e-mail message to be sent to the recipients originallylisted in the CC: field. The control message may be sent separate fromor within the copy of the e-mail message. At step 336, the method writesthe message identifier in the copy of the e-mail message to be sent. Themethod 300 proceeds to send the copy of the e-mail message to therecipients originally specified in the CC: field. The CC: listed usersare removed from the original version of the message at step 340 beforeproceeding to step 322. In this manner, only the recipients originallylisted in the CC: field are disabled from responding to the copy of thesent e-mail message with a delegate reply message.

Returning to step 316, if the event is not sending an e-mail message,i.e., the sender receives an e-mail message, then the method 300proceeds to step 342. At step 342, the method 300 determines whether thetimer has expired. This timer periodically expires such that the method300 may download incoming mail at periodic intervals. If the timer isnot expired, the method 300 proceeds to step 344, where the query iswhether the event is to open a received e-mail message. This receivede-mail message may comprise a normal e-mail message or a delegate replymessage.

If the event is to open the received e-mail message, the method 300proceeds to step 346, where a window is opened for the received e-mailmessage. Step 346 is embodied in method 400 as further described inconnection with FIG. 4. After this step 346, the method 300 retrievesthe next event at step 304. If the event is not to open the receivede-mail message, the method 300 proceeds to perform normal processing atstep 348 and retrieve the next event at step 304.

Returning to step 342, if the timer is expired, the method 300 proceedsto step 350, where the timer is reset. At step 352, the method 300determines whether to download any e-mail messages that were receivedprior the expiration of the timer. Namely, step 352 queries whether anynew e-mail messages to download. If there are no e-mail messages todownload, the method 300 proceeds to retrieve a new event at step 304.If there are e-mail messages to download, the method 300 proceeds todownload the received e-mail messages at step 354.

The method 300 proceeds to step 356 to determine whether the receivede-mail message is a delegate reply message. If the received e-mailmessage is a delegate reply message, the method 300 proceeds to step358, where a query is performed to determine whether to receive only onedelegate reply message from a particular recipient of a previously sente-mail message. Namely, step 358 determines whether to restrict thereceipt of duplicate delegate reply messages from a recipient.

If the received messages are not restricted to one delegate replymessage per recipient, the method 300 proceeds to step 360. At step 360,the method 300 identifies the recipient providing the received delegatereply message in response to a sent e-mail message. This identificationis used to determine whether this recipient sends any subsequentdelegate reply messages. The method 300 proceeds to determine whetherany other e-mail messages were received before the timer expired at step352.

If the received messages are restricted to one delegate reply per user,the method 300 proceeds to step 362, where the method 300 determineswhether any delegate reply messages have been previously received fromthe same recipient responding with the delegate reply message. In oneembodiment of the invention, step 362 determines whether the messageidentifier of the delegate reply message is the same as that of a priordelegate reply message from the same user. The message identifier mayinclude sender and timestamp information as previously described in step308. In turn, the delegate reply message has the same message identifieras the sent e-mail message that the delegate reply message was providedin response to. If the other delegate reply messages have been receivedfrom this recipient, the method 300 deletes the other delegate replymessages and proceeds to determine whether there are any additionalemail messages to download at step 352. If other delegate reply messageshave not been received from this recipient, the method 300 proceeds tosteps 360 and 352 as previously discussed.

Returning to step 356, if the received e-mail message is not a delegatereply message, the method proceeds to step 366. In this step 366, themethod 300 queries whether the delegate reply feature is activated. Ifthe delegate reply feature is activated, the method 300 proceeds to step352. If the delegate reply feature is inactive, the method 300 proceedsto step 368, where the method 300 determines whether the delegate flagassociated with the received message is inactive, e.g., in an offposition.

If the delegate flag is inactive, e.g., in an off position, for thereceived e-mail message, the method 300 proceeds to step 352. If thedelegate flag is active, e.g., in an on position, for the receivede-mail message, the method 300 proceeds to prepare a delegate replymessage and include the original message identifier therein at step 370.In one embodiment, the default position of delegate flag is the onposition, i.e., the recipient terminal responds with a delegate replymessage unless the delegate flag is in an inactive or off position. Atstep 372, the method 300 sends the delegate reply message in response tothe received e-mail message, and proceeds to step 352.

Referring to FIG. 4, the method 400 is implemented when a receivede-mail message is opened at step 346. The method 400 starts at step 402and proceeds to step 404, where the window is opened and the messagecontents are loaded to the display. The method 400 proceeds to retrievethe next event at step 406. At step 408, the method 400 queries whetherthe event is to close the previously opened window.

If the window remains open, the method 400 proceeds to step 410, where aquery is performed whether there is an event, i.e., a command using anoption or feature, to delete all delegate reply messages related to theopened delegate reply message. Namely, step 410 determines whether todelete all delegate reply messages provided in response to the samee-mail message as the opened delegate reply message. To determinewhether other delegate reply messages are related to the opened delegatereply message, the method 400 may compare message identifiers betweenthe opened delegated reply message and other delegate reply messages,i.e., unread or previously opened delegate reply messages. With thisfeature, the user would open one of the delegate reply messages, anddelete this and any other related delegate reply messages.

If the related delegate reply messages are not to be deleted, the method400 proceeds to handle other events at step 412. After this step 412,the method 400 returns to step 406 for retrieving the next event. If therelated delegate reply messages are to be deleted, the method 400proceeds to step 414, where the message identifier is retrieved from theopened delegate reply message. This message identifier is used todetermine other related delegate reply messages. At step 416, the method400 queries whether any other delegate reply messages have beenreceived. Step 416 determines whether any unopened, e.g., unread, orpreviously opened delegate reply messages have been received.

If there are no other delegate reply messages to process at step 416,the method proceeds to retrieve the next event at step 406. If there areother delegate reply messages to process at step 416, the method 400proceeds to step 418, for determining whether the received delegatereply message and the opened message have the same message identifiers.

If a match exists between the message identifiers of the opened e-mailmessage and received delegate reply message at step 418, the method 400proceeds to remove the matched delegate reply message at step 420. Inthis case, the method 400 proceeds to step 416 for determining whetherother delegate reply messages have been received. If no match existsbetween the message identifiers of the opened and received delegatereply message at step 418, the method 400 proceeds to step 416, wherethe next received delegate reply message is considered. Steps 416 and418 are repeated for each received, e.g., unopened, unread or previouslyopened, delegate reply message.

Returning to step 408, if the event is to close the previously openedwindow, the method 400 proceeds to step 422. In step 422, the method 400determines whether the opened message is a delegate reply message. Ifthe message is not a delegate reply message, the method 400 proceeds toclose the window at step 428 and retrieve the next event at step 406.

If the message is a delegate reply message, the method 400 proceeds tostep 424, where the method 400 queries whether to remove the e-mailmessage. Namely, the method 400 may implement a feature forautomatically deleting the delegate reply message once the recipient isdone viewing this e-mail message. If the remove delegate feature isselected, the method 400 deletes the delegate reply message at step 426,closes the window at step 428 and retrieves the next event at step 406.If the remove delegate feature is not selected, the method 400 proceedsto close the window at step 428 and retrieve the next event at step 406.

Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments thatstill incorporate these teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of restricting the receipt of delegatereply messages comprising: configuring a control message for anelectronic mail message addressed to at least one recipient terminal;and sending the electronic mail and control messages to the at least onerecipient terminal, where the at least one recipient terminal processesthe received control message for determining whether to reply to thereceived electronic mail message with a delegate reply message.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the at least one recipient terminalautomatically replies with the delegate reply message upon processingthe control message.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:writing a message identifier into the electronic mail message beforesending the electronic mail and control messages to the at least onerecipient terminal.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the messageidentifier of the electronic mail message is written into the delegatereply message provided in response to the electronic mail message. 5.The method of claim 3 wherein the message identifier comprises a senderidentifier field and a timestamp field.
 6. The method of claim 1 whereinthe at least one recipient terminal fails to reply with the delegatereply message upon processing the control message.
 7. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one recipient terminal fails to reply withthe delegate reply message upon processing the control message if thenumber of recipients addressed in the electronic mail message exceeds athreshold number.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least onerecipient terminal fails to reply with the delegate reply message uponprocessing the control message if a user identifier for the at least onerecipient terminal is listed in a CC: field of the electronic mailmessage.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the control message comprisesa delegate flag.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least onerecipient terminal fails to reply with the delegate reply message uponprocessing the control message if the delegate flag is in an offposition.
 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving adelegate reply message the at least one recipient terminal; and deletingother delegate reply messages if sent from the same recipient terminalas the previously opened delegate reply message.
 12. The method of claim1 further comprising: opening a delegate reply message provided inresponse to a sent electronic mail message to the at least one recipientterminal; and deleting other delegate reply messages provided inresponse to the sent electronic mail message.
 13. The method of claim 12wherein the deleting occurs if the other delegate reply messages havesubstantially the same message identifier as the opened delegate replymessage.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the control message isembedded in a header of the electronic mail message.
 15. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the control message and the electronic mail message aresent as separate messages.
 16. An apparatus for restricting the receiptof delegate reply messages comprising: a memory for storing anelectronic mail message and a delegate reply restriction routine; and aprocessing unit, coupled to the memory, for executing the delegate replyrestriction routine retrieved from the memory, configuring a controlmessage for an electronic mail message upon command from an inputdevice, and sending the electronic mail and control messages to at leastone recipient terminal, where the at least one recipient terminalprocesses the received control message for determining whether to replyto the received electronic mail message with a delegate reply message.17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said processing unit writes amessage identifier into the electronic mail message before sending theelectronic mail and control messages to the at least one recipientterminal.
 18. The apparatus of claims 16 wherein the at least onerecipient terminal fails to reply with the delegate reply message uponprocessing the control message.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16 whereinthe at least one recipient terminal fails to reply with the delegatereply message upon processing the control message if the number ofrecipients addressed in the electronic mail message exceeds a thresholdnumber.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the at least one recipientterminal fails to reply with the delegate reply message upon processingthe control message if a user identifier for the at least one recipientterminal is listed in a CC: field of the electronic mail message.
 21. Acomputer readable medium storing a software program that, when executedby a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:configuring a control message for an electronic mail message addressedto at least one recipient terminal; and sending the electronic mail andcontrol messages to the at least one recipient terminal, where the atleast one recipient terminal processes the received control message fordetermining whether to reply to the received electronic mail messagewith a delegate reply message.
 22. The computer readable medium of claim21 wherein the at least one recipient terminal automatically replieswith the delegate reply message upon processing the control message. 23.The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising: writing amessage identifier into the electronic mail message before sending theelectronic mail and control messages to the at least one recipientterminal.
 24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein themessage identifier of the electronic mail message is written into thedelegate reply message provided in response to the electronic mailmessage.
 25. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein themessage identifier comprises a sender identifier field and a timestampfield.
 26. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the at leastone recipient terminal fails to reply with the delegate reply messageupon processing the control message.
 27. The computer readable medium ofclaim 21 wherein the at least one recipient terminal fails to reply withthe delegate reply message upon processing the control message if thenumber of recipients addressed in the electronic mail message exceeds athreshold number.
 28. The computer readable medium of claim 21 whereinthe at least one recipient terminal fails to reply with the delegatereply message upon processing the control message if a user identifierfor the at least one recipient terminal is listed in a CC: field of theelectronic mail message.
 29. The computer readable medium of claim 21wherein the control message comprises a delegate flag.
 30. The computerreadable medium of claim 29 wherein the at least one recipient terminalfails to reply with the delegate reply message upon processing thecontrol message if the delegate flag is in an off position.
 31. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising: receiving adelegate reply message the at least one recipient terminal; and deletingother delegate reply messages if sent from the same recipient terminalas the previously opened delegate reply message.
 32. The computerreadable medium of claim 21 further comprising: opening a delegate replymessage provided in response to a sent electronic mail message to the atleast one recipient terminal; and deleting other delegate reply messagesprovided in response to the sent electronic mail message.
 33. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 32 wherein the deleting occurs if theother delegate reply messages have substantially the same messageidentifier as the opened delegate reply message.
 34. The computerreadable medium of claim 21 wherein the control message is embedded in aheader of the electronic mail message.
 35. The computer readable mediumof claim 21 wherein the control message and the electronic mail messageare sent as separate messages.